“When I think about leadership, I think about leading people with a coaching mindset. Leading people so that they can lead themselves, and for you to lead people, they have to trust you.”
-Jennifer Kinyoe
These insightful words come from the Managing Director of Loxea— a subsidiary of CFAO in the mobility division that specializes in tailored automotive leasing solutions.
With a robust background in accounting, and over 24 years of experience across various sectors, Jennifer blends expertise, professionalism, and passion in her approach. Since joining Loxea in April 2023, she has embarked on a mission to revolutionize mobility solutions, particularly through the introduction of BYD electric vehicles.
Loxea operates as the leasing arm of CFAO in the mobility division, providing tailored leasing solutions across 23 African countries. With over 10,000 vehicles on the road across Africa, Loxea is committed to delivering a true Pan-African experience to its customers.
In Kenya, Loxea specializes in corporate leasing, serving large corporate companies that require reliable fleet solutions without the burden of vehicle ownership. This model allows businesses to focus on their core operations while enjoying the benefits of cost-effective mobility solutions.
Loxea is also the official distributor of BYD Electric Vehicles in Kenya offering models like the Atto3, a mini-SUV, the Dolphin, a hatchback, and the SEAL, a sports sedan. These vehicles are designed to deliver exceptional performance with extensive battery life. They can conveniently be charged at home mitigating range anxiety that is common with EVs. They come with two chargers, one you install at home and the other is portable.
Loxea’s mission is rooted in driving efficiency and innovation in leasing and fleet management. Their solutions not only cater to corporates but also align with the sustainability goals of governments and organizations aiming to save the environment, reduce costs and manage risks effectively.
Vehicle leasing is an evolving subsector and over the past few years, Loxea has seen a steady growth driven by increasing demand for flexibility, cost efficiency, and vehicle management solutions. Businesses across various sectors are recognizing the benefits of leasing which are around cost saving, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.
Autonews had the privilege of sitting down with Jennifer Kinyoe, to get the inside scoop of her journey, her vision for Loxea, and how she’s shaping the Kenyan automotive industry.
Q: What are your core values as a leader, and how do they guide your decision-making at Loxea?
My values revolve around making a positive impact in everything I do. I believe in having a clear vision and actively communicating that vision to my team and empowering them to take action on the vision. My core values for me as a leader are integrity, self-awareness, courage, respect, compassion, and resilience, which are essential for building a strong company.
Q: How do you envision Loxea’s leasing solutions, influencing the growth and dynamics of the Kenyan automotive industry?
Loxea’s leasing solutions are set to significantly influence the growth in dynamics of the Kenyan automotive industry in several ways:
First by providing flexible solutions, we enable businesses to access a wider range of vehicles without the financial burden of ownership. This flexibility encourages more companies to enhance their operations.
Secondly, our focus on sustainability and innovation is aligned with the global shift towards cleaner mobility solutions.
Additionally, our presence in the 23 countries allows us to introduce best practices and cutting-edge technology across our market and this enhances our competitiveness in the Kenyan market.
Overall, our leasing solutions meet the demand, drive technological advancements, and promote sustainable practices all of which are essential for the continued evolution of the Kenyan automotive sector.
Q: How different is the Kenyan leasing market compared to other markets in Africa?
Vehicle leasing is an evolving sub-sector within the Kenyan market. Over the past few years, it has seen steady growth, driven by the increasing demand for flexible, cost-efficient vehicle management solutions. Businesses across various sectors are recognizing the benefits of leasing, especially in terms of cost savings, risk mitigation, and operational efficiency.
Q: Based on your experience, what emerging trends do you see in the vehicle leasing market in Kenya?
The vehicle leasing market is maturing, and Loxea has positioned itself at the forefront of this evolution. We have grown exponentially since 2009 by delivering tailor-made leasing solutions that meet the demands of businesses in Kenya’s vibrant economic landscape, and we are determined to capitalize on that momentum for more growth.
With our Loxea Connect platform, we offer a unique 360 degrees approach to fleet management connected services. Depending on the type of vehicle, the activity of the drivers and management methods, the platform enables services to be activated in a modular and scalable way to meet the requirements of our customers. Some of the aspects of Loxea Connect include Geo Location, route optimization, costs and contracts analysis and optimization, optimization of vehicle maintenance, fuel consumption analysis, carbon emission rating, vehicle usage optimization, car sharing and carpooling among others.
Q: Why did Loxea introduce electric vehicles (EVs) into its line-up, and what opportunities do you see in this market?
BYD is the world’s largest Electric Vehicles manufacturer, renowned for its innovation, quality, and sustainability. BYD, initially known for its battery manufacturing expertise, expanded into the automotive sector in 2003 and has since become a world leader in electric vehicle production.
The name BYD – “Build Your Dreams” symbolizes a commitment to creating a better future. A better future for generations to come. Our launch of BYD Electric vehicles in Kenya, comes at a unique time of ever-pressing global concerns about sustainability and climate change mitigation.
We are a responsible company, and our environmental responsibility is part of the bigger group’s commitment to being cautious about the environment. This introduction of EVs aligns with the global demand for more sustainable transport solutions.
We also introduced the electric vehicles to meet our customer demands, some of our customers must cut emissions to zero by 2030. For them to do that, we must give them a sustainable solution. This will provide them with a structure to be able to meet their corporate responsibility goals by the targeted time.
There’s also regulatory compliance. Many regions across Africa are becoming stricter, we have some countries in Africa where they’re only importing EVs going forward. By incorporating the offering in our solutions, we are supporting our customers with compliance and giving them a form of platform for them to prepare for future legislative changes that are coming.
The BYD SEAL
Q: How is Loxea preparing for the infrastructure needs, such as charging and maintenance, for EVs?
We are in collaboration with providers of charging infrastructure, and we are working together to install charging stations across the country as well as in our customer sites. The BYD Vehicles also come with a home charger and can be conveniently charged at the comfort of your home and this solves the range anxiety for first time users of electric vehicles.
CFAO Mobility will do all the service and maintenance for BYD vehicles in our network across the country.
Q: What is Loxea’s vision for the future, and how do you plan to maintain your leadership position in the Kenyan vehicle leasing market?
Our vision is to be the leading provider of innovative and sustainable mobility solutions in Kenya and across Africa. We aim to empower businesses and individuals, by offering them solutions to meet their mobility needs and also align with environmental and technological advancements.
With our Loxea Connect platform, we offer a unique 360 degrees approach to fleet management connected services. Depending on the type of vehicle, the activity of the drivers and management methods, the platform enables services to be activated in a modular and scalable way to meet the requirements of our customers. Some of the aspects of Loxea Connect include Geo Location, route optimization, costs and contracts analysis and optimization, optimization of vehicle maintenance, fuel consumption analysis, carbon emission rating, vehicle usage optimization, car sharing and carpooling among others.
Q: What is your advice to young people who want to be in leadership?
My advice to people who want to be in leadership is that you have to build yourself from the ground up, building yourself with resilience is not easy. Get coaches, mentors, and people who walk with you. But most importantly, I want to say you have to do it yourself and know what you want. You also have to set short-term, medium term and long-term goals and follow through with these goals to the end.
One also must get out of their comfort zone. You cannot grow when you are in your comfort zone. It’s important to push the boundaries of your comfort zone in order to learn and grow. Work on your confidence, educate yourself, build networks and you are for sure going to grow in your career.
Q: Personal Insights: Beyond Loxea, who is Jennifer?
Jennifer is a professional coach in training, mentor, golfer, and a philanthropist. She is a mother of two Gen Z’s who keep her on her toes.
Q: What’s your dream car?
My dream cars are the BYD SEAL and the Mercedes GLE.
For more information on Loxea’s mobility solutions, visit: Loxea Website
